Surfing v MtB

herzalot

herzalot

iMTB Hooligan
Why surfing is better than mountain biking:
  • Equipment is much cheaper. You can buy 8 brand new boards for the price of a decent mtb.
  • Physique - surfing builds a better-looking body than MtB does
  • Heat - one rarely gets hot while surfing (at least in SoCal).If you do, then take a quick dunk.
  • No one sits around talking about surfboard components. Upgradititis is rare (although N+1 may be stronger in surfers than in MtBers).
  • No STRAVA and surfers rarely feel compelled to compare themselves to others or even to themselves from one day to the next. (Organized surf contests being the exception).
Why MtB is better than surfing:
  • The trail is always there. If you go to ride it, it will be there. Conditions do not change all that much. Surf depends on swell, wind, tide and many other factors that make it fickle.
  • You typically do not have to hassle with others trying to get on the same trail as you, excluding you from riding it - that happens in community meetings and legislative halls, not actually on the trail.
  • More than one person can ride a trail at the same time.
  • Fellow mtbers are friendly and will actually talk to you.
  • If you ride for two hours, you will ride for two hours. If you "surf" for two hours, you will actually ride your board for 200 seconds total, if you are aggressive enough and choose the right waves.
Feel free to join in with your own observations, even if you don't surf.
 
I've never surfed.

Saying that; MTB is better, because death is completely within your power to taunt or completely avoid. You can back off and walk anything and death is removed from the equation. Surfing; even taking it easy and trying not to risk anything, you could get sucked under and rip tided away to death.
 
Cougar said:
I've never surfed.

Saying that; MTB is better, because death is completely within your power to taunt or completely avoid. You can back off and walk anything and death is removed from the equation. Surfing; even taking it easy and trying not to risk anything, you could get sucked under and rip tided away to death.
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...Very very rare in surfing, and rip currents do not suck you under, they pull you away from shore. I don't think I've heard of any novice surfers dying in the 16 years I've considered myself a surfer - at least not on OC shores. Death from rip currents are common in people visiting beaches and trying to swim with no knowledge of currents, no fins, no boards and no strength - or, unfortunately, sometimes lifeguards die trying to save them.

And given the recent deaths at snow summit, I wouldn't say the deceased intended to be, or thought they were, taunting death by riding an intermediate trail.

But I'll add two more...

Surfing - you will not get eaten by a mt. lion nor bit by a rattlesnake.
MtB - you will not get eaten by a shark nor stung by a stingray or jellyfish.
 
Surfing - you will not get eaten by a mt. lion nor bit by a rattlesnake.
MtB - you will not get eaten by a shark nor stung by a stingray or jellyfish

Very true, but both are fun!!

Going camping in Jalama Beach in a couple of weeks, going to do both.
 
herzalot said:
..

Surfing - you will not get eaten by a mt. lion nor bit by a rattlesnake.
MtB - you will not get eaten by a shark nor stung by a stingray or jellyfish.
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I don't know, those rattlesharks are pretty gnarly....

shopify_11x14_rattleshark.jpg
 
I hear you Gunga - that's why today was rare. One other guy out. Consistent rideable waist-high waves, warm water, warm air no wind.

Sorry Rox, you surf too, so have some fun sharing your perspectives when you compare the two.

I guess that's why Mikie, for the first time in history, has not "liked" every post on this thread. Sorry OG. Just trying to have some fun.
 
herzalot said:
I hear you Gunga - that's why today was rare. One other guy out. Consistent rideable waist-high waves, warm water, warm air no wind.

Sorry Rox, you surf too, so have some fun sharing your perspectives when you compare the two.

I guess that's why Mikie, for the first time in history, has not "liked" every post on this thread. Sorry OG. Just trying to have some fun.
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Yes, yes I do Herz ...

IMG_20150920_203541079_HDR.jpg
 
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[QUOTE="rojomas, post: 25621, member:]
Windsurfing on the other hand, that ain't cheap..[/QUOTE]

MTB trails are always there - not as weather dependent as surfing or windsurfing. Also, more geographically accessible; there is always someplace to ride.
Windsurfing gets you out and away from the chaos BUT you need a vehicle large enough to transport everything.
The benefit to all of these is once you have the gear it doesn't cost anything (or much) to do unlike snow skiing.
 
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H2oChick said:
The benefit to all of these is once you have the gear it doesn't cost anything (or much) to do unlike snow skiing.
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Or golf!
Actually, I went to Snow Summit on Saturday. That costed me $50, (with lunch) which is about what I pay to go snow boarding. If I go to Mt. High on the other hand, it's much cheaper. If i recall correctly, with coupon, it's been under $20.
 
Going to MDO on the way there., so not actually going riding in Jalama. I have heard the road is pretty bad for roadies.
 
Danmtchl said:
Going to MDO on the way there., so not actually going riding in Jalama. I have heard the road is pretty bad for roadies.
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Extremely narrow, windy <--as in twisty, and it always has RV's trying to make the corners, cutting corners, etc. etc. etc. I have talked to a bunch of roadies that still choose to do the 14 mile out and back on Jalama Road, but not me!

Jalama is TOTALLY worth it to go to the beach (The Jalama Burgers are pretty awesome).

I have always found the water to be excess with thick seaweed to swim in, not sure about the surfing. But there is no where to ride Mountain Bikes unless you choose to poach on private property deer trails.
 
Over the years I tried most water sports. Some became a life changing experiences.

As a kid I started with water-skiing, then sailing, windsurfing, surfing, kitesurfing, and others.
The main issue with water sports was the inconsistency of the weather. I got fat waiting for wind (windsurfing, and kitesurfing).

I started biking (again) to gain some fitness to enable me to kitesurf longer on the days that the wind and waves coexist.

Over the last two summer I hardly ever kitesurf anymore..... I'm not sure why. I love it (I think).
Hopefully next summer I'll find better balance between the trail and the ocean.



... two weeks a go I tried surfing for the first time in a loooong time. I had a hard time just getting up on the board, and my rib cage was bruised for three days after. I'm getting old!
 
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There is a surf spot called Tarantulas and want to try it out while we are out there. It's just south of the campground.
 
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